Question 03. Discuss / explore / critique / expand on Skegg’s XXXXXXXXXXprovocative question on human rights and social work: A Western imposition or empowerment to the people?3 (You may consider...

The Relationship between Social work and Human Rights
The Relationship between Social work and Human Rights
Introduction
Social work has long been viewed as a humanitarian work. Social work can be considered any work that is undertaken on the societal level to create a positive change in society. In doing this, it takes several routes, humanitarian being one of them. That is why human rights are considered an integral part of social work. Human rights lay emphasis on the integral rights of every human and the focus of social work is attaining of these rights for all. However, the definition of the term ‘human-rights’ can be considered the point of difference when it comes to social work globally. Hence relying entirely on human rights to define social work can be controversial.
Skegg’s Ideas
In the article, “Human rights and social work: A western imposition or empowerment to the people?” Skegg (2005) discusses the various challenges that arise when it comes to human rights and social work and how it can be dealt with in an international scenario.
Skegg raises some ideas and questions regarding the use of human rights as a means of outlining the basis of social work. On the surface the idea or the conformity between human rights and social work seems to be so well matched and aligned that an argument against it seems out of question. However, the points raised in Skegg discussion dictate otherwise.
Skegg observes the intimate connection between human rights and social work. While observing this, she analyses the advantages of having a rights-based model for social work. There are many reasons why such a model would be successful. Since human rights is a globally accepted practice, it would be valued and weighed more than any other model would. Another reason would be that it is complimentary to the social justice and needs based models of social work that are already prevalent in that it would add to their value without changing any contexts. On the other hand, a discourse of human rights regarding social work might not fare well if human rights conflict local culture in different parts of the world. The advocacy of human rights is perceived as arrogant and intruding by critics. According to them, these human rights activists violate the local culture and are also being used as a means to dominate the developing countries instead of actually helping them.
Human Rights
The United Nations (UN) on December 10, 1948 devised and adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This charter and declaration held that all humans deserved to be treated with dignity, equality and respect in every part of the world.
While the definition of human rights has evolved over ages, the relevance of the modern definition of human rights is in question today. Skegg traces how the term human rights continuously changed with time based on the changing demand and thus she deems human rights as a dynamic entity that will keep changing. This change, even though towards better, has actually been too narrowly focussed.
One of the fundamental problems with the term human rights is that its focus has been the western countries. Based on the perception of the population in the Western countries, human rights as a term encompassing freedom and equality, is ideal. However since the context of human rights has gone beyond the West and is being used world-wide, the current definition becomes lacking. Human beings in other parts of the world understand the ideals of human rights. However, the culture, upbringing and sometimes even the conditional aspects of countries become an impediment to this understanding. Thus arises the inherent need for incorporating cultural and social aspects within this definition. Only then can the concept of human rights become truly global.
Interrelationship
When it comes to social work, the profession itself is closely related to human rights, because social work in essence adheres to the fulfilment of the very values advocated by human rights (Staub-Bernasconi, 2012). The social work profession is regarded in great respect for its challenging stance against injustice, inhumane behaviour and its advocacy of peace and equality. Social work in a way gives the oppressed both a helping hand and a voice.
A demonstration of this aspect of social work can be found in the documentary film E-Team where a group of four social workers risk their lives to expose crimes and atrocities that might have otherwise gone unnoticed (Chevigni & Kauffmann, 2014). So, where social work and human rights go so closely together, a rights-based model for social work may seem ideal. However, the restricted...